Tag: long march

  • Husband of reporter killed in PTI long march gives up pursuing legal action, Govt alleges husband pressurised to give statement

    Husband of reporter killed in PTI long march gives up pursuing legal action, Govt alleges husband pressurised to give statement

    Sadaf Naeem, a reporter with Channel Five, died on Sunday in an unfortunate accident near Sadhoke while reporting on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march.

    The late reporter’s husband has decided not to pursue “any kind of legal action”, according to a statement submitted to the police on Sunday night.

    “When the long march […] started to move gradually, my wife — who was standing on the divider — fell and was trapped beneath the container and died on the spot,” her husband stated.

    “This was an accident,” he added, further saying that he did not want to take any legal action, “nor do I want to get a postmortem examination conducted”.

    He requested that “The dead body be handed over to us immediately so that the burial can be done in a timely manner.”

    However, Railway Minister, Khawaja Saad Rafique, shared a video purportedly showing Naeem’s husband signing his statement in the presence of PTI leaders including Aslam Iqbal.

    Rafique alleged that the deceased reporter’s husband was “surrounded” by PTI members to make him sign the statement.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Naeem’s fellow journalists were alleging that she was “pushed”.

    He called for the “person who pushed her” to be arrested as “after this witness account, it was necessary that investigations of the incident are carried out.”

  • Politicians express condolences after reporter’s death, IK stops march for a day

    Sadaf Naeem, a reporter with Channel Five, died in an unfortunate accident near Sadhoke while reporting on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march.

    She reportedly fell from the container after which she was crushed by the vehicle and passed away on the spot.

    Shortly after the incident, Khan announced that the long march has been postponed for the day and extended condolences to the bereaved family.

    “I say this with utmost regret that due to an accident we are postponing the march today. We pray for the patience and strength of the woman’s family to deal with the tragedy,” he told his supporters.

    The PTI chief also took to Twitter to extend his condolences. “I have no words to express my sorrow. My prayers and condolences go to the family at this tragic time. We have cancelled our march for today”, he said.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif also expressed regret over the death, saying that he was “deeply saddened” by the incident.

    Extending his condolences to the reporter’s family, PM Shehbaz praised Naeem as a “dynamic and hardworking reporter”.

    The President of Pakistan’s official Twitter handle said that President Dr Arif Alvi expressed regret over the death of Naeem and extend his sympathies to the deceased family.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif prayed for the departed soul.

    “I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of the precious life of a TV reporter Sadaf in the line of duty. My prayers are for the bereaved family. May she rest in eternal peace,” she said in a tweet.

    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, who was also present along with his party chairman during the long march, recalled the last interview between Sadaf and Imran which was recorded yesterday.

    He said: “I have rarely seen a more courageous and hardworking reporter than Sadaf, a brave girl, after an interview with Imran Khan yesterday, when Sadaf was introduced as the bravest and hardworking reporter in Lahore, her eyes lit up. Who knew that this meeting would be the last one, God bless you.”

    Fawad also requested the public to take caution while walking along Imran’s container, adding that the lives of all people contributing to the march were “precious and respected”.

  • I do not talk to ‘boot polishers’, Khan responds to PM Shehbaz’s claims of holding talks

    I do not talk to ‘boot polishers’, Khan responds to PM Shehbaz’s claims of holding talks

    Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), while responding to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s statement about holding talks on the new army chief’s appointment, said that he does not talk to “boot polishers”.

    Shehbaz Sharif had said a day earlier that Imran Khan had sent him an invitation through a businessman acquaintance to discuss the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

    “I spoke to those with whom Shehbaz speaks while hiding in the trunk of a car,” said Khan. He also questioned why he would send a message to the premier.

    Khan also said that he was not raised in a “military dictator’s nursery”.

    “I do not call Ayub Khan daddy like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. I am not like Nawaz Sharif who build General Jilani’s home and massaged General Ziaul Haq’s knees to become a minister,” said the PTI leader.

    On the Indian media’s coverage of his attack on military officials, the PTI chief told the neighbouring country’s media that his party is standing with the army.

    “I came to power with the people’s power not because of the establishment,” claimed Khan, adding that he only seeks rule of law in the country and the protection of the people’s rights.

    Continuing his attack on the coalition government, the PTI chief said that former dictator Pervez Musharraf harmed the country by giving an NRO to these parties.

    During a meet-up with vloggers in Lahore, the Premier had said that the PTI chief approached him a month ago and wanted to settle two issues through dialogue.

    PM Shehbaz said, “The first matter was the army chief’s appointment and the second was holding elections. However, I refused,” he stated.

    The prime minister shared that Khan offered to send him three names for the Chief’s slot and sought three from him to appoint the next army chief. The Premier said that Khan told him through the intermediary, “Let’s appoint the army chief together.”

    “I sent a message to him [Khan] that is a constitutional duty that the prime minister has to perform,” said PM Shehbaz.

  • ‘Workers ko kaha hai ke Imran Khan ko dekh kar gharri chor, Toshakhana chor ke naray lagaayein’: Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that he has instructed his party workers to “chant slogans of gharri chor (watch stealer) and Toshakhana chor,” whenever they see Imran Khan, Chairman of their rival party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    During an appearance on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath,” the federal minister said: “He is the biggest thief, the most corrupt. Mei nay apnay workers ko kaha hai yeh [Imran Khan] aap ko jahan bhi nazar aye, gharri chor aur Toshkhana chor ke narey is ke khilaf lagaye jain.” (I have told my workers that whenever they see him [Imran Khan], they should chant ‘watch thief’ and ‘Toshkhana thief’ slogans against him.)

    On Thursday, Khan was heckled with gharri chor chants within the vicinity of the civil courts in the provincial capital of Punjab.

    The federal minister was of the view that Khan should feel pain when such slogans are raised against him. “He only knows the politics of hate as he calls his opponents thieves and continues his loose talk against them”, said Sanaullah.

    He also hinted towards the possibility of negotiations between the government and PTI over the election date. He said both parties could find a middle way.

    Moreover, Sanaullah claimed that Imran Khan wants to be the establishment’s ladla (favourite) again, however, he added that the establishment won’t agree to it.

    About the long march, the minister said, “Imran Khan has no popularity, it is all propaganda”. He also warned that PTI will face difficulties if they try to enter secure areas.

  • ‘DG ISI presser more political than Sheikh Rasheed; Khan responds to the establishment, says they’re defaming COAS

    ‘DG ISI presser more political than Sheikh Rasheed; Khan responds to the establishment, says they’re defaming COAS

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, said on Friday that the joint press conference by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar held a day earlier was more “political than Sheikh Rasheed”.

    Addressing the head of the ISI who made an unprecedented appearance at the press conference on Thursday, Imran Khan said, “You say you are not political, but your presser was more political than that of Sheikh Rasheed.”

    “DG ISI, listen carefully, the things I know…I am staying silent for my institutions and the country. I don’t want to damage my country,” Khan said as the crowd cheered.

    “DG ISI, when we criticise [the institutions], it is constructive and for your betterment. I am saying this again, I can say a lot and can respond to you. But I don’t want the institutions to get weak,” he stressed.

    Addressing the DG’s statement that Imran Khan had met the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in secret, the former prime minister said that he never made any unconstitutional demands during “backdoor contacts”.

    “I want free and fair elections. I want the people to decide who will lead the country — not Washington, America, or anyone else,” Khan added.

    Khan then addressed General Bajwa and said: “When Bilawal Bhutto gave a statement against the ISI sector commander in Karachi, you removed him. Remove them [Faisal and Faheem] too now.” PTI leader Azam Swati earlier today revealed in a presser the names of the military officers [Faisal and Faheem] allegedly responsible for his custodial torture.

    “These people are defaming you, Gen Bajwa,” Khan claimed.

  • Govt not going anywhere; Shahid Khaqan Abbasi dismisses threat of long march

    Govt not going anywhere; Shahid Khaqan Abbasi dismisses threat of long march

    Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that the coalition government will not fall as a result of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s long march.

    “Imran Khan may launch a long march or do as he wishes, the government will remain as it is,” said Khaqan while speaking at Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath while referring to the PTI Chairman who announced that the long march will commence from Friday.

    On Tuesday, Khan announced that his long march will commence from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk on October 28. After the announcement, federal ministers and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders came forward, stating that the government will deal firmly with the marchers who are planning to come to the capital city.

    Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, said that the long march was announced because Khan wants National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to escape punishment in the foreign funding and Toshakhana cases.

  • ‘Long March will be dealt with iron hands’: PML-N leaders and ministers react to Khan’s long march

    ‘Long March will be dealt with iron hands’: PML-N leaders and ministers react to Khan’s long march

    After Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday announced that his long march will commence from Friday, federal ministers and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders came forward, stating that the government will deal strongly with the marchers who are planning to come to Islamabad.

    Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said that the long march was announced because Khan wants National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to escape punishment in the foreign funding and Toshakhana cases.

    PML-N leader and former federal minister Abid Sher Ali said that, “The government will deal with the long march with iron hands. There is no leniency for certified thieves”.

    Meanwhile, PML-N leader and former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that Khan can do whatever he wants but the government is not going anywhere. “Imran Khan may launch a long march or do as he wishes, the government will remain as it is,” he stressed.

    While speaking on the Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath‘ he said that neither politics nor democracy will survive in the country if a tradition takes hold to overthrow the government through long marches.

    He posed a question: “Why does a long march take place whenever bilateral relations with China get off the ground?” Moreover, he mentioned that the last time when the long march was announced, Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to visit Pakistan.

    It is pertinent to mention here that in 2014, President Xi had to call off his scheduled visit to Pakistan because of the political unrest in the country caused by long march in the federal capital. At the time, the Chinese ambassador had even approached Khan to suspend his protest for a few days in order to allow the visit to take place. However, he refused.

    On October 25, Khan announced his party’s much-awaited long march. The march will begin on Friday, October 28 from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk at 11am.

  • No decision has been reached so far on COAS appointment: Khawaja Asif

    No decision has been reached so far on COAS appointment: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has revealed that no decision has been reached by the federal government yet about the appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

    According to the defence minister, the selection process for the new army chief will likely begin within the next five to seven days.

    Talking in Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, the minister said five names will be forwarded and then Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will pick one of those names. He was of the view that the appointment is quite a simple method as this exercise has been conducted several times in the past too.

    The appointment for the COAS position is due to take place in November.

    About the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned long march, the federal minister said that the government will not be blackmailed by the PTI if the party comes to Islamabad.

    The minister also said that no negotiations have taken place with PTI. “A couple of meetings took place because of Imran’s old acquaintances”, he added.

    On the contrary, Khan has claimed that negotiations were indeed held. He also warned the government to give a date for early general elections or else he will announce a date for the long march within the current month.

    Discussing the recent by-elections held on the past Sunday, Asif said that if Khan had let his party candidates run from their respective constituencies instead of contesting himself, the results would have been different.

    During the show, he also hinted towards keeping the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance in place in the next elections.

  • Rana Sanaullah warns PTI again after Imran says party is all ready for long march

    Rana Sanaullah warns PTI again after Imran says party is all ready for long march

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has warned Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, again that the federal government will respond with “full force” if he announces a long march and enters Islamabad.

    On Monday, the federal minister said that Khan has started the culture of bringing huge crowds out on the streets, but the government knows how to end it.

    Speaking about the by-elections in which PTI won the majority of the seats, Sanauallah said that while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has “responsibly carried out its job in the by-polls”, Khan was busy “spreading propaganda against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).”

    Rana Sanaullah revealed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will lead his party’s next election campaign.

    Despite the warning, the PTI chief said the long march will be announced within this month. He told the federal government to announce a date for general elections in a few days or else the long march date will be announced. Imran Khan stressed that all preparations for the long march have been completed.

    Last week, Sanaullah warned Khan about his party’s long march, saying, “Jab yeh long march ke liye aayeinge [Islamabad], iss ko pakar kar ulta kardeinge” (We will hang Khan upside down if he takes his long march into Islamabad).

    The federal minister also said that there is a possibility of Khan and other party leaders being arrested during the long march.

  • ‘Jab yeh long march ke liye aayeinge, iss ko pakar kar ulta kardeinge’: Rana Sanaullah warns Imran Khan

    ‘Jab yeh long march ke liye aayeinge, iss ko pakar kar ulta kardeinge’: Rana Sanaullah warns Imran Khan

    Federal Minister for Interior, Rana Sanaullah, has warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan about his party’s long march, saying, “Jab yeh long march ke liye aayeinge [Islamabad], iss ko pakar kar ulta kardeinge” (We will hang Khan upside down if he takes his long march into Islamabad).

    In Geo News’ programme “Capital Talk”, the minister replied to remarks made by Imran Khan himself. Earlier, Khan said even if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Sanaullah turn upside down, they wouldn’t be able to stop the long march.

    The federal minister also said that there is a possibility of Khan and other party leaders being arrested during the long march.

    During the show, Sanaullah claimed that Khan doesn’t know about the steps the government would take.

    Despite repeating that the nation should remain ready for the march, Imran Khan hasn’t announced the date yet, claiming that he has completed the planning.

    When asked about PTI’s Senator Azam Swati’s arrest, the federal minister justified the incarceration, saying that Azam’s tweet tried to defame institutions and the tweet was objectionable.

    On October 12, Swati tweeted against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Following this, he was arrested in the early hours of the morning by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).